Stigma for Men With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Traveltext

"The most common reaction from men when they are diagnosed with breast cancer is, "I didn't know men got this" and usually following this statement is embarrassment."

read the article here:

https://advancedbreastcancer.net/living/stigma-mal...

KBL

Good article, Traveltext. Thank you for sharing. My brother was diagnosed with breast cancer late last year. There is no genetic link to figure out why we both got this disease. He is Stage IIIB IDC. I am Stage IV occult de novo ILC.

Thankfully, my brother did not hold back on talking about his diagnosis with anyone. If they asked questions, he gladly answered. I cantimagine how frustrating it is for men.

Traveltext

Thanks KBL. I'm sorry to hear that you and your brother both got this shitty disease. Like your brother, I was IIIB. I'm super sorry to hear of you being de novo IV.

Your brother sounds like a willing advovate of the plight of guys with this disease. I wish you both well.

KBL

Thank you so much.

I do have a question, if you don't mind. I believe you found out about the prostate cancer after your breast cancer diagnosis. Is there something my brother should look out for? I know this happens sometimes with men.

Unfortunately, my brother is not a reader when it comes to his diagnosis. We are total opposites. I want to know every little detail and control my care. He listens to the doctors and does what they say. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's funny how different we are.

Traveltext

Ha. It’s a gender thing.

Yes, two years after bc I was diagnosed with pc. Treated with a prostatectomy. NED for both cancers now. Your brother needs to monitor his PSA annually. How old is he?

KBL

He's 69, about to be 70. I will try to tell him without telling him. I don't want him to feel I'm telling him what to do. LOL. He's on top of his health, though, so I would imagine he gets the PSA every year with his physical, but I will try to ask in a round-about way.

I'm so glad you're doing well. I'm so glad I can read about men getting breast cancer so I can try to understand what he's going through.

Beesie

Traveltext, excellent article!